Nishank demands to declare U'khand floods a national calamity

Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank on Friday criticised the Centre for not declaring the recent disaster in the state a national calamity saying it was strange.

"Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde says it is not a national calamity but a national crisis. Centre's refusal to declare a crisis of this magnitude a national calamity is strange," Nishank told reporters after touring the affected areas near Mussoorie.

"People from all over the country lost their lives in this tragedy. Kedarnath shrine, the centre of faith for crores of Hindus all over the world, was devastated. I wonder what keeps Shinde from calling it a national calamity," the BJP leader said.